Neural stem cell (NSC) potentially provide therapeutic benefit through multiple mechanisms of action including migration to the site of injury, secretion of neurotrophic factors, immunomodulation, cell replacement, and finally recovery of the endogenous neurons. The new data was obtained as part of International Stem Cell Corporation鈥檚 (ISCO) collaboration with the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute.

Some results included that NSC migrate a significant distance from the site of implantation in the striatum to the substantia nigra where the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons primarily occurs in Parkinson's patients. Additionally no evidence of migration outside the brain was observed.

Another finding was that the stem cell-derived NSC elicited a lower immunogenic response compared with other cell types included in the study, an important safety consideration for allogeneic cell transplantation.

The study conclusively showed that the NSC differentiated post injection in the brain into the specific type of neurons lost in the disease. These new cells replace the neurons destroyed by the disease and produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine, required to alleviate the symptoms.

According to ISCO's, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. R. Semechkin, "These results are important because they establish a solid foundation for the clinical use of neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's diseases. This also potentially opens up a number of other neurological indications, for example Alzheimer's disease, with this cellular product."